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2-21-73 PRESIDENTS I HAVE KNOWN By Brooks Hays I have seen all of the presidents elected in this century, twelve of them, which is one third of all who have ever served. I have heard all of these twelve speak except Woodrow Wilson, yet I am more familiar with his words and philosophy than I am with many of the others, for I had a feeling of adulation for him. I did see him in the inaugural parade of 1921, when he was a broken man. I heard Teddy Roosevelt speak from the back end of a train in Russellville about 1910 when he was on a tour to advocate certain reforms. I heard Mr. Taft speak to University of Arkansas students in 1917 when he was giving considerable time to the advocacy of the League of Nations. Later, I heard him say as Chief Justice in 1925 when Congressman Ragon moved my admission to the Supreme Court, " Mr. Hays, you may take the oath." I was in the vast audience that witnessed Warren Harding's inauguration, Mar. 4 1921. It was the first time that voice amplification was utilised, and I had an eerie feeling as I heard the booming voice of the presiding officer nearly 200 yards away. My next inauguration experience was on March 4, 1933, when I sat much closer to the podium and heard Franklin Roosevelt sworn in. (I was Democratic National Committeeman at the time.) The first president that I had the privilege of conversing with was Herbert Hoover. It was after his term as president ended and it took place in his apartment in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. -more-

2-21-73 PRESIDENTS I HAVE KNOWN By Brooks Hays I have seen all of the presidents elected in this century, twelve of them, which is one third of all who have ever served. I have heard all of these twelve speak except Woodrow Wilson, yet I am more familiar with his words and philosophy than I am with many of the others, for I had a feeling of adulation for him. I did see him in the inaugural parade of 1921, when he was a broken man. I heard Teddy Roosevelt speak from the back end of a train in Russellville about 1910 when he was on a tour to advocate certain reforms. I heard Mr. Taft speak to University of Arkansas students in 1917 when he was giving considerable time to the advocacy of the League of Nations. Later, I heard him say as Chief Justice in 1925 when Congressman Ragon moved my admission to the Supreme Court, " Mr. Hays, you may take the oath." I was in the vast audience that witnessed Warren Harding's inauguration, Mar. 4 1921. It was the first time that voice amplification was utilised, and I had an eerie feeling as I heard the booming voice of the presiding officer nearly 200 yards away. My next inauguration experience was on March 4, 1933, when I sat much closer to the podium and heard Franklin Roosevelt sworn in. (I was Democratic National Committeeman at the time.) The first president that I had the privilege of conversing with was Herbert Hoover. It was after his term as president ended and it took place in his apartment in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. -more-